Human beings have always been drawn to the beauty of the horse. DaVinci sketched hundreds of them, Robert Vavra has shown the world the beauty of the horse through photography, and countless others have painted them, drawn them, and photographed them. The Friesian, with its telltale ink black coat color, abundant main and tail, high-set neck and broad chest, and small head and ears seems to embody this beauty. The Friesian's high-stepping gait is powerful and elastic, making him all the more beautiful under saddle or in harness. The Friesian temperament adds to its inner beauty, as the breed is known to be easy-going, smart, honest, and willing to please. It is because of this temperament that the Friesian is considered a warmblood.
The Friesian is the only horse native to Holland, and is one of the oldest horses in western Europe. Over time the Friesian has been influenced by eastern bloodlines and has often been threatened with extinction, only to be saved by its greatest admirers. Friesians were originally bred for agricultural use and for pulling coaches. Today's Friesian is still strong but has more of a sporthorse build than a draft horse build. It is taller and lighter on its feet, and therefore has been embraced as a champion dressage and driving horse.
Characteristics of the Friesian
The shiny black coat of the Friesian is most often the first characteristic noticed about the breed. While bays and grays occurred earlier in the breed, black is now the only recognized color. A small, white forehead star is the only white marking allowed. The Friesian possesses a long, heavy, wavy main and tail and copious fetlock hair. Stallions must stand at 15.3 at four years old, while mares must stand at 15.1 at four years old. The Friesian generally has expressive eyes on a head carried high on an elegant, nicely curved neck. The head is straight or slightly concave. The legs are strong with good bone structure.
The History of the Friesian
Friesians hail from Friesland, one of the provinces of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The people from Friesland were seafarers, tradesman, horse breeders, and farmers. The horse native to Friesland was most likely there as early as 500 B.C., when the inhabitants settled among the borders of the North Sea. During the 16th and 17th centuries Arabian blood was introduced, especially through Spain's Andalusian horses, which gave the breed its high-stepping action, high-set neck, and small head. Horse breeding was very important to the people of Friesland, and throughout time the Friesian government has instilled many rules to regulate and safeguard good breeding. The Dutch Horselaw of 1939 now gives rules for breeding.
Records show that Friesians were imported to Hungary and Austria as early as the 1500s, followed by Prussia, Denmark, and England, where Friesians were used to pull mourning coaches in London up to the beginning of this century. Many believe that the Friesian directly influenced the Old English Black Horse and the Fell Pony, and more indirectly influenced the Northern Dole, Northern Swedish horse, and the English Dale pony.
It is believed that Friesians were imported into what would later become the United States as early as 1625. In The Morgan Horse by Jeanne Mellin the author proposes that the Friesian influenced the Morgan. In 1974, 1975, and 1977 Thomas Hannon of Friesian Farms in Ohio imported a total of nine Friesian horses into the United States.
Friesians have also been imported into Germany, South Africa, and and Scotland.
In addition to agricultural work, the Friesian was often used as a trotter in Friesland. These horseraces were extremely popular, and between 1800 and 1850 records indicate there were 2,847 of them advertised in the paper. The races were on horseback at first, but then included the Friesian sjees. The sjezen were elegant carriages that came into early fashion in the middle of the 18th century. Today there is a registration book for these szejen, in which more than 70 have been registered. In order to be admitted into the book 26 measurements are taken and recorded. At a horse show, the sjees is drawn by one or two Friesians and manned by a gentleman and lady dressed in the traditional costumes of the 1860s.
The Studbook
Crossbreeding became very popular in the middle of the 18th century, and a decision was made to open two registration books to Friesians. Book A would be for pure Friesians, and Book B would be for crossbreds. From 1884 to 1896 the book was open to horses in the provinces of Groningen and Drente, and for this reason the name of the breed was temporarily changed to Inland horse. By 1896 the Friesian had all but disappeared in those provinces, and in 1907 crossing was so popular that the books A and B were closed and the decision was made to register all horses in one book.
This could have signaled the demise of the purebred Friesian, but in 1913 The Friesian Horse Society formed. The society worked closely with the studbook to improve the breed, and in 1915 the studbook granted the society's request to open two studbooks again. By 1939 the number of Friesians was on the rise, and they got a board of their own within the studbook. In 1943 breeders of non-Friesian horses left the studbook, and since then the Royal Society of the Friesian Studbook registers only purebred horses.
Registration in the United States
There are two recognized associations of the Friesian in the United States. One is the Friesian Horse Society of North America, which is the North American representative of the original Friesian horse association (FPS). The other recognized Friesian association is The Friesian Horse Society, which is the North American affiliate of the Friesian Horse Breeding Association in Germany.
Rules for registration in both associations are stringent and complex, but not identical. In the Friesian Horse Society, only purebreds with no unqualified stallions in their pedigrees receive registration papers. Purebreds with unqualified stallions receive only a birth certificate. All foals, mares, and stallions seeking studbook registration are evaluated and performance tested, and stallions whose owners wish to breed them must be specifically approved through a keuring. This generally occurs when the stallion is 3 or 4 years old. The stallion is generally evaluated for quality of exterior and gaits, and must attain approval to be allowed into the performance tests. The stallion must meet a height requirement and pass a veterinary exam. In order to pass the performance test the stallion may have to obtain adequate scores in tests such as dressage, pulling, driving, and jumping. The mares are also given a specific performance test that tests both quality of exterior and movement. Depending upon the results, the mare will earn either a "star" or "model" rating. The performance test includes both driving and dressage, and the mare must also meet a height requirment. All foals being presented for studbook registration are evaluated, and then DNA-tested to verify parentage, microchipped, and branded.
Breeding Friesian horses within the FPS studbook is also highly controlled. A foal may only be registered in the main studbook if its dam is registered in the main studbook and its sire is an approved stallion. The FPS testing for approved stallions is very strict and also based on exterior conformation and performance. Those interested in breeding a Friesian stallion should carefully consult the Friesian Horse Association of North America's rules and regulations concerning the requirements for the Studbook for Stallions. All FPS horses born before 1997 have a tongue tattoo on the left side of the tongue. Horses born in 1977 and after have an electronic identification chip in the upper left neck. Neck brands occur on the left side but are in the process of being banned.
Both associations have specific rules and regulations regarding the registration of crossbreds. Dual registration is not permitted by either organization.
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For more information contact The Friesian Horse Society of North American (FHANA) at www.fhana.com, or by writing FHAHA, P.O. Box 11217, Lexington, KY 40514-1217. The Friesian Horse Society can be reached by writing 8502 East Chapman Ave #140, Orange, CA 92869, or by calling 250-295-3102. You can also get more information on its website, www.friesianhorsesociety.com.
